Dino Bellagio
Our first homebred offering - and the perfect candidate for the new race series the BHA have announced for later this year.
Dino Bellagio (Dean) is a 5 yr old bay gelding by Doyen, out of our own mare, Savingforvegas.
His sire Doyen is a top class stallion - he himself was a top class racehorse. Running in the 'Godolphin Blue', he started his career in France with Andre Fabre, where after one run as a two year old he went on to win at both Listed and Group 3 level at 3. He then came to the UK where at 4, after finishing second in the Coronation Stakes at Epsom he went on to add two Group 1's in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by the King George a month later at the same track.
As as sire he has proved a consitant and reliable source of winners, having sired 300 National Hunt winners. His horses always progress well, and he boasts a near 50% winners to runners record with his chasers.
His dam, Savingforvegas has been with us for a number oif years, and I was part of her story before we purchased her, in foal to Doyen. She was originally purchased for a client, from Cormac Doyle after winning her maiden point to point in Ireland. She went on to win her bumper, and then a novice hurdle before a nasty freak injury curtailed her career. In winning her novice hurdle around Warwick, she beat two subsequent Listed winners, and a mare that went on to be rated in the 130's, so as you can see she was a mare with huge potential, and one that we felt would have easily achieved black type had her career not been cut short.
She also boasts a top class pedigree - She is by a champion sire in Beneficial, and out of an unraced mare - she is the half sister to Cheltenham Festival winner Rathvinden, along with 5 further winners, including the very exciting Where It All Began who is at the start of an exciting career with Gordon Elliott. Her dam Peggy Cullen is a half sister to Princess Mairead who is the dam of The Big Breakaway, Kildisart, and recent Listed performer Say Goodbye.
As you can see 'Dean' has all the credentials to be a cracking racehorse. He was broken in by Jason Maguire last year as a two year old, after which her returned to The Elms Stud. He then went to Charlie Poste to for the second phase of his career where he spent 2 months doing plenty of work, including schooling up the jumps lane. Having completed 'secondary school' he returned to The Elms for a few weeks R&R before heading into training with Donald McCain
'Dino' went into training in the autumn of 2022 and Donald really liked him - ' I really like this horse, he is tough as nails, hardy and has just the right attitude for the job. He is the spitting image of a good horse I have called A Different Kind, who is by the same sire, and won 5 on the bounce for us . He looks just like him, and has exactly the same attitude to life'.
He wasn't wrong - Dino made his debut in a Junior Bumper in Ayr in November, and despite never having been away for a gallop, never having cantered on grass - let alone galloped on it, and not being 100% wound up for it - managed to win, and win cosily! He did it on raw ability as he didn't even know he had been in a race atfterwards. From there he headed to Cheltenham for the Listed 4 yr old bumper there on New Years Day - where he was fancied to run a huge race - only for the saddle to slip after 2 furlongs. His next start was a winning one - when he cruised to a facile victory in a decent heat in Doncaster, ater which Brian Hughes said he gave hin a really nice feel - is a horse with a huge amount of ability, and that he should have a crack at the Grade 2 bumper at the Grand National meeting in Aintree.
Sadly he had an awful preparation for that race, and in hindsight should probably not have run.
We headed into last season really looking forward to seeing him over hurdles and in the summer Donald had suggested a plan for him that would see him running in Graded races before Christmas. Once again things went against him as he got an awful fright on hurdling debut - and when he finally got his confidence back and we could run him again - he was travelling supremely well in a novice hurdle in Doncaster when he suffered an injury 3 furlongs from home and couldn't see out the remainder of the race.
He suffered a strange fracture to a hind leg that day - but has rehabbed and recovered well and is back in training, He goes into the 2024/25 season with his novice status intact, and we hope that he can follow the path that Donald had mapped out for him at this time last year.
Dino is a very talented horse - and with a clear run, will take his syndicate members to some very nice meetings this season.
Only 25 shares are available (2 remain) - and all the montly costs are all inclusive - there are no hidden extras, and no catches.
Free Lease - No Capital Outlay.
Monthly all inclusive training/keep fee £110.
Please call/text me on 07909 518902 - Or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com
